Often times in the English language Americans (and I am sure it is the same in other languages) transpose words and their meanings without really knowing the impact of the difference. Did you know words matter? I think people outside the United States understand this point much better than Americans. Often we will substitute happy for glad, not a big deal, but there is a difference. Sometimes Americans will substitute angry for mad, again a difference even more than with happy for glad. When I first started traveling abroad I often made promises (with good intentions) I did not follow through on. Many times circumstances and situations, beyond my control, kicked in and others times I just wrote a check with my mouth I could not cash with my heart. My heart was in the right place of wanting to help, but was not dealt with enough by God in this area to keep me from making promises I could not fulfill. Our words do matter. The more one depends on someone’s words the more is at stake. Always remember, for the ones who follow us the stakes are much higher. The people at the People’s Temple, Jonestown, Guyana found that out the hard way. Now not our salvation that is not a stake, that depends on us believe Jesus died for our sins and then our obedience to Him in denying our selves, taking up our cross daily, and following Him. These words were recorded in three of the four (not in John) Gospels, “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23) Now it is interesting to know only in Luke does the word “daily” appear in the Gospel references, maybe because Luke was a doctor and usually they pay attention to detail, but the point is words matter. If we desire to “come after” Jesus or become (a process of sanctification that happens when we allow God to deal and judge in our lives) like Jesus we must “daily” deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. Wait a minute, how about all of the good works we must do to be like Jesus? How about all of the denominations and religious folks that told us we must join the church; be a member and keep all of these doctrinal duties and responsibilities? All three of these requirements today seem very strange to us because they are so contrary to our fleshly desires. Who wants to deny themselves? Oh no our flesh screams look at me me me it is all about me. Who wants to take up their cross so that they can die? The only thing a cross is good for is gruesomely killing someone on, except for Jesus He paid for our salvation on it. And who wants to be a follower? Ever since Kindergarten we have been taught to be a leader and now to be like Jesus we must be a follower? This does not pass the common sense test. I am sure when the disciples heard these things they said are we following the right guy? Who is Jesus kidding; deny myself, take up my cross, and follow Him, no way. We want to kick the Romans out and set up an earthly kingdom. We have some big plans for you Jesus just follow us and everything will be okay. Now please do not think I have met all three of these requirements I have not. As a matter of fact the longer I go with God on this wondrous everlasting way the more I see I have not met these requirements. Next Jesus said, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” (Luke 9:24) Now I was not there, but if I was I would not be too surprised to hear them say (like us today) lose no we are winner. If we follow you we get it all we will lose nothing and get: a new chariot, treasures and money, a big mansion with hot and cold servants, their own squad of Roman soldiers, power and authority to command people, everything. They really must have thought Jesus was crazy. But, Jesus knew if we are going to be able to receive the life of God (which is valued much more than things of this earth) we must die to our earthly carnal selfish self-centered self-life. Please notice losing comes first then we are saved. But who wants to lose? The goal in life as the world teaches is to win. Does not the one with the most toys win? No my friend. In God, the winner in life is the one who can lay down their life so that others may live. Words do matter. Over the years God taught me to measure my words and my promises.
I think one of the biggest synonym word confusion we use today are the words happy (which means: feeling showing pleasure glad contented, lucky, fortunate) and joy (which means: great pleasure, delight). Often to know the future knowing the past and where things come from will spell things out for us. Did you know the word happy gets it origin from the Old English word happen-stance; or depending on happenings in our lives. So too with the word circumstance, an Old English word that gets it’s origin from circum-stance; or depending on events around in our lives (circum), over the years we have dropped the hyphen. But now joy is different. Joy in us is not dependent on circum-stances and happen-stance in our lives. Being happy depends on favorable things (events and situations) around us effecting our emotions and feelings, but joy is something that is built in us not depending on what is going on around us, a big difference indeed. Joy is a thing of the heart and not our emotions and feelings, a big difference. Joy in us does not depend on things around us, but does depend on us doing something. One of the definitions of the word for joy is delight. In Psalms David said, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” (Psalm 37:4) Wow, “the desires of thine heart!” Who would not want, “the desires of thine heart?” We think all we have to do is be joyful in the Lord (sing, dance, work hard) and we will get, “the desires of thine heart.” Well this is very true, but the “Delight” here has nothing to do with being joyful, but pliable, bendable, putty in the hands of God and then He can trust you with “the desires of thine heart,” because His desires will be your desires. This too is why our emotions are so dangerous to use when we make our approach to God. We must never use our emotions and feelings, like many denominations teach, to worship God with. Jesus Himself said, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24) Emotions and feelings got Adam, Abel, Samson, David, Solomon, Jonah, the Disciples, and the list on to include us if not careful. Our “spirit” and “truth” has nothing to do with our emotions. There is a huge difference in worshiping God with our emotions and allowing God to touch our emotions. Yes God put thoughts, emotions, and feelings, (our soul) in us, but we must never use them to worship God. Our soul (our thoughts, emotions and feelings) will mislead and deceive us. We use either our soul or spirit to ascend us toward God in worship. One will take us to His heart (our spirit) and the other (our soul) will leave us empty and confused, but feeling (when we feel a cold chill up our back) like we have touched His heart. One (our soul) is out from a self-seeking desire to feel God in some way and for Him to touch us (through singing, dancing, flag waving, whatever) and the other (our spirit) is us loving Him enough to come down into a low place (where Jesus is) and allow Him to touch our emotions. One will leave us (our soul) with more questions when we do not get what we want and the other (our spirit) will leave us quiet and still knowing God loves us, not needing to have all of our questions answered.
I think one of the biggest synonym word confusion we use today are the words happy (which means: feeling showing pleasure glad contented, lucky, fortunate) and joy (which means: great pleasure, delight). Often to know the future knowing the past and where things come from will spell things out for us. Did you know the word happy gets it origin from the Old English word happen-stance; or depending on happenings in our lives. So too with the word circumstance, an Old English word that gets it’s origin from circum-stance; or depending on events around in our lives (circum), over the years we have dropped the hyphen. But now joy is different. Joy in us is not dependent on circum-stances and happen-stance in our lives. Being happy depends on favorable things (events and situations) around us effecting our emotions and feelings, but joy is something that is built in us not depending on what is going on around us, a big difference indeed. Joy is a thing of the heart and not our emotions and feelings, a big difference. Joy in us does not depend on things around us, but does depend on us doing something. One of the definitions of the word for joy is delight. In Psalms David said, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” (Psalm 37:4) Wow, “the desires of thine heart!” Who would not want, “the desires of thine heart?” We think all we have to do is be joyful in the Lord (sing, dance, work hard) and we will get, “the desires of thine heart.” Well this is very true, but the “Delight” here has nothing to do with being joyful, but pliable, bendable, putty in the hands of God and then He can trust you with “the desires of thine heart,” because His desires will be your desires. This too is why our emotions are so dangerous to use when we make our approach to God. We must never use our emotions and feelings, like many denominations teach, to worship God with. Jesus Himself said, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24) Emotions and feelings got Adam, Abel, Samson, David, Solomon, Jonah, the Disciples, and the list on to include us if not careful. Our “spirit” and “truth” has nothing to do with our emotions. There is a huge difference in worshiping God with our emotions and allowing God to touch our emotions. Yes God put thoughts, emotions, and feelings, (our soul) in us, but we must never use them to worship God. Our soul (our thoughts, emotions and feelings) will mislead and deceive us. We use either our soul or spirit to ascend us toward God in worship. One will take us to His heart (our spirit) and the other (our soul) will leave us empty and confused, but feeling (when we feel a cold chill up our back) like we have touched His heart. One (our soul) is out from a self-seeking desire to feel God in some way and for Him to touch us (through singing, dancing, flag waving, whatever) and the other (our spirit) is us loving Him enough to come down into a low place (where Jesus is) and allow Him to touch our emotions. One will leave us (our soul) with more questions when we do not get what we want and the other (our spirit) will leave us quiet and still knowing God loves us, not needing to have all of our questions answered.
The aim and goal of joy in our lives is to be our strength when happiness is not enough and to bring us into a place of rest in God. In Nehemiah we read, “Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10) Now please notice it is not our joy, but it is “the joy of the LORD” that is our strength. How do we get this joy? Maybe when we are saved God gives us our life-long portion of joy to use when things do not go our way in life? Or maybe “the joy of the LORD” is something we have work up, maybe when we hear or sing our favorite song? Or maybe “the joy of the LORD” comes to us when we pray a certain number of prayers, pay a certain amount of money to the church, or do a certain number of good deeds for the poor? No I think not, “the joy of the LORD” comes to us unsolicited, like the presence of the Lord, to bring us into a rest that is beyond human comprehension. It comes as we need it, as we have allowed God to build it in us, as we “Delight” ourselves in the Lord, through God’s dealings and judgments in our lives God can build in us an unshakable place of rest. The more we allow God to work in our lives (Ephesians 2:10) the more of an understanding of assurance of His love and care we have. The spiritual progression of maturity in God is: faith (believing for something like salvation and/or healing), trust (uncommon deeper conviction of ones belief and always linked with obedience) and lastly rest (where we are not moved by what we see or feel because we know we are firmly held by God, not we are holding on to God). We know faith; it works by love (Galatians 5;6) and without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6), but Queen Esther displayed her trust in God when she said, “Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.” (Esther 4:16) Now rest is the end of the work of God in our lives. Jesus said it well, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” (Matthew 11:29) The rest as does “the joy of the LORD” comes to us as we learn just how “meek and lowly in heart” Jesus is and by allowing God, through His dealings and judgments in our lives, to build in us His character and nature. Why do we not have the rest and “the joy of the LORD?” Maybe, because we have not allowed God to build them in us. Written by David Stahl
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